introductory mingle: carnivale

[riverviewmod]

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and Carnivale Celebration
when: July 1st - July 9th
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

carnivale

In the days leading up to July 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: Carnivale. This holiday is in celebration of music, and the onset of summer and warmer weather. The celebrations are marked by street parties, an extensive program of live musical performances, with a large parade (and paid holiday!) capping it off on July 8th.

celebrating music, and summer

After a couple of months of low-key or even solemn celebrations, it's time for Riverview Quarantine to throw a good, old-fashioned party. Carnivale is a city-wide festival that pretty much everyone gets into, and many residents take the entire week off so they can enjoy all the festivities. With events ranging from impromptu street parties, free live musical performances, food stands, themed club nights, adult lounges with kink shows, and topped off with a massive party parade, the holiday has a lot to offer for anyone who likes to sing, dance, and show some skin!

i. street parties and food

One of the staples of the Carnivale festival is the spontaneous street parties and food trucks and carts. It's not unusual during the holiday to turn a corner and run into a group of people dressed in bright colors and sequins having an impromptu party with a few drinks, and then be invited to join right in! Carnivale is a celebration of music as well as summer, so most shops and stalls will be blasting danceable music into the streets to facilitate these little street parties - it's considered a sign of good luck for the owner of a business if an impromptu Carnivale celebration starts up in front of their door.

Considering the proliferation of street parties and people out and about to celebrate the warmer weather, local business owners also take to the streets. Food carts, stands, and trucks pop up on almost every street corner offering a wide variety of food from savory treats to sweet desserts. Many of the carts are offering one free item to anyone dressed up for Carnivale - anything shimmery, shiny, or brightly colored will do!

ii. live musical performances

One of the major roads in the city center has been completely roped off for the entire week, and all along this street, various temporary stages have been set up, each with a nice hefty sound system. Volunteers hand out printed flyers, and digital boards are set up here and there with schedules of various performances that are all free to attend, ranging from well-known popular music artists to new up-and-comers or independent artists who are looking to make a name for themselves. This event is very widely advertised around the city, and is accepting entries until the very last minute.

At couple of the acts might be familiar faces to some of the residents.

Eichi Tenshouin has signed up himself and his friend Tsumugi Aoba into the music festival as a first-time appearing idol unit called "Higanbana." Dressed in all white with splashes of color (blue, largely, with only their headsets being a red spider lily), they carry a very commanding and angelic image together. They'll have a routine that emphasizes their great harmony with each other, taking turns doing solo lines and joining together to show off each of their talents. Singing and dancing, they interact heavily with the audience and will encourage a lot of involvement with speaking between songs and gestures, winks, and so on. Basically, they intend to make this Riverview's very first prominent "idol performance".

For his performance, Otabek Altin will start with rock remixes of a few popular pop songs. He wants to make sure that it starts off with recognizable pieces for some people, and he certainly thinks it is something that could get people excited even if they don't know it. Then, it shifts into a few original songs. They are upbeat, rock songs that he put together with the intention to make people dance and move, since he is a DJ. He'll end his set with a slower piece he put together that is also an original. Through the entire performance, he's focused and quiet, though he may occasionally try and excite the crowd with a few words.

Any other player-characters who are musically inclined are more than welcome to assume their character was fit in for a performance, and can post up a top-level with a rundown of their performance to get bonus Activity Points for posting a mingle!

iii. carnivale parade

The other main attraction of Carnivale week comes on July 8th, which is a paid holiday for everyone in the city. The Carnivale Parade will be starting out by City Hall and winding through downtown in a lazy pattern so everyone in the city has a chance to see it. There will be all sorts of floats, dancers, marching bands, with all sorts of clubs, businesses, and other organizations represented. The theme is theatrical, big and showy, bright and colorful, sparkly and shiny, with loud music and lots of glitz and glamour. Observers can expect great music, excellent dancing and marching shows, neat vehicles provided by classic car clubs, the fire, police, and Perimeter Guard. They can also expect a lot of party favors, whether it's a sparkly plastic beaded necklace, a fan to take the edge off the heat, candy, popsicles, a temporary tattoo, or any number of other little treats or toys to be tossed into the crowd - some of them fit for kids and teens, others of a more 'adult' nature handed out a bit more discreetly to anyone who looks the part.

And make sure you wear your waterproof mascara - Carnivale floats have a tendency of spraying or spritzing water, both in an unspoken competition to see who can make the biggest water-refraction rainbow in the air, and to keep observers cool in the new summer heat.

iv. adult: lounges and kink exhibition

Thanks to the Carnivale tradition of showing as much skin as possible, some event organizers' minds have turned to topics of a more adult nature. In the evenings, residents may see clubs doing "lounge nights"; these adults-only events have bouncers IDing everyone at the door to ensure they're 18+. The themes may vary, from very specific niche themes like 'golden age superheroes' to broad themes like 'rainbows,' and each event is clearly marked as what it is - all-nude or clothing-optional, and can host events ranging from amateur to professional exotic dancing, food served off of nude bodies, anonymous masked hookups, or just provide a comfortable space where casual sex is encouraged with whoever happens to be around. Various legal substances can be found at these lounges, but nothing that would cause violation of consent, and every substance would be clearly labeled and have warnings to ensure that no one partakes unless they choose to. Please be sure to warn in the subject line for sexual content or drug use (since some mild party drugs are legal in Riverview).

For the weekend from July 7th-9th, there will be a kink exhibition in one of the large exhibition centers downtown, limited to characters 18+. The exhibition is a sexy adult informational convention featuring various kinks and fetishes. Whether you're into leather, latex, lace, or anything else, you'll be able to find the clothes, toys, guides, books, erotica, fiction, and a wide variety of other interesting stuff to explore. While the atmosphere is sex-positive and there are private and public (for the voyeurs and exhibitionists in the room) venues for having sex, it's definitely focused on exploration and information about different stuff to try.

v. roommates or wildcard

Feel free to use this prompt to meet new roommates, for the purpose of getting to know each other, or hit up one of the mod-posted prompts for each Communal Floor. Or if you have an idea for a prompt that isn't in this list, set during Carnivale, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: Roger Patterson Jr.; image ii: Syd Mead; image iii: screencap from the movie Paprika; image iv: siamon89

navigation

Comments

[finethanks]

Would my room not be private enough? My roommate was recently sent back through the portal, so it's just me. I'm not sure where else would be private enough, honestly.

[But he'll listen if there are ideas. He feels a bit bad, making Cain miss the rest of the parade, but at the same time... If he's willing to, he's not going to stop him. He wants to do this, now. He wants to practice.]

[aeturnus]

That would be perfect. I'm on a communal floor so we definitely don't want to do it there.

[ People get weird when you start hurting yourself or others out of nowhere, who would have thought? ]

[finethanks]

You're on another one of those exciting and lively floors, then? Fufu, I'm on floor seven, room four. If your place is on the way, we can go in order without a problem. I'll lock the balcony door, this time, so Gladio doesn't surprise us by walking in.

[That would probably be bad. He does that sometimes.]

[aeturnus]

Just below you, actually. [ Cain tilts his free hand back and forth. ] Exciting might be too big of a word for us, but it works.

[ He gives an odd, entertained look for that second statement. ]

Gladio waltzes around on your balcony?

[finethanks]

[Ah, perfect. One floor difference, so that's not bad at all. They'll be at housing in no time, and then they can practice. He can practice. At the bringing up Gladio again, though, Eichi laughs, and there's a first hint of pink at his cheeks just thanks to some recent events. He'll really have to lock the balcony door.]

He's my neighbor, but the balcony is shared across our floor even with our separate rooms. Do you know him, Kane-kun? If so, you can guess that he'd invite himself in like that.

[aeturnus]

He's helping me get back into self-defense practice.

[ So yeah, Cain definitely knows what he's talking about. There's just an air about him. ]

Little sword gets a little close, huh?

[finethanks]

Indeed. That makes sense, doesn't it? He tried to train me himself to help with this illness of mine, but after I fainted during a jog and he took me to the hospital, he's seemed very guilty about it.

[Eichi sighs a little about that.] I really don't mind taking walks, though, so long as I feel up to it.

[aeturnus]

Ouch. Yeah, from what I can see it's not the sort of thing you can build up against.

[ Which sucks, but it's better to know the limits than try to push them. ]

Like walking around through the parade.

[finethanks]

Like walking around through the parade. That performance of mine, as well, was full of energy that I pushed myself to have. But you can understand why I'd like to be able to make use of something more that I was given, right?

[He wants to help.

With casual conversation like that, they'll end up at housing in no time. Eichi will busy himself with removing his excessive scarves while he's waiting for Cain to get whatever it is that he needs. He'll take his jacket off in the room, too... He's still drenched.]

[aeturnus]

You had a performance? Sorry I missed it.

[ And he really is. When they get back to the building, Cain excuses himself to change and also grab the thing that he needs, slipping on his jacket in the air conditioned building to pocket it. You don't just carry around a small bottle and a hypodermic needle without grabbing some attention, even if he's only going up a single floor.

When he gets there, he knocks and waits. Look, he may be about to let himself get injured for Eichi to practice healing on for however long he lasts, but he's got manners, too! ]

[finethanks]

[ Eichi assures him that he can see the next one, then!! By the time Cain gets to his room, Eichi has decided to change to some simple clothes. ]

Are you ready, Kane-kun? [ That's how he greets him at the door, smiling as he lets him in and locks it after him. ]

[aeturnus]

[ It's all a very casual affair to the outside observer. Possibly why Cain is grinning when he answers the door because this whole thing is just... ridiculous, actually. ]

Yeah, more or less. How do you feel about needles? Seeing them, I mean.

[finethanks]

You forget that I've been hospitalized most of my life, Kane-kun. I dislike things like IVs, but I deal with them frequently.

[ They don't freak him out at this point. ] Why bring up needles?

[aeturnus]

No, I didn't, but sometimes things you have to deal with don't get more pleasant after time.

[ Still, that's a good answer and he finds a seat. Reaching into his jacket, out comes the capped needle and the medical vial with a strange yellow liquid in it. Cain starts prepping the dosage while he speaks. ]

This is the stuff that'll make this whole thing actually work.

[finethanks]

[A good point. Eichi lets himself go quiet in acknowledgement of that, but as soon as the yellow liquid is revealed, he steps closer, head tilting.]

What does it do, exactly?

[aeturnus]

[ Something of interest on the vial itself might be the label. Its name is what one might expect, something complicated and medical, but it also says Subject: Cain, "J. Kane," "B. Jacobs". Huh. ]

Inhibits my healing temporarily. There's a big, long and sciencey explanation to it but short version: breaks the healing process to make wounds last longer.

[finethanks]

[He definitely notices that. He's familiar with different drug labels, so of course he'd curiously peer at it to see if there was the name of the drug. It's not one he recognizes, but the names catch his eye, and he quietly considers them for a moment.]

It's not any more painful for you, is it? [He'll leave it at this for now.]

[aeturnus]

[ That's fine and probably a good call. Cain's so used to his own names he doesn't totally consider it before he showed it to Eichi. At the question, he shakes his head, already removing his jacket to get ready to inject himself. ]

No, just affects how long it'll hurt for and that's not a problem.

[finethanks]

Thank you for this.

[Selfishly, just in case it's a sore spot, he's going to save his questions for the very end, he thinks. Or at least not here at the beginning. He wants to make use of this time if Cain is going to be "turning off" his ability to regenerate.]

As far as what to use to cause the damage... Were you thinking a knife?

[aeturnus]

You're welcome. I get the want to... help.

[ Seeing all of his family end up the same way and work for a greater good that he'll never get to touch, keeping the balance — it's hard. He does what he can for them in life, but overall it doesn't feel like much. ]

Felt like the easiest route. Did you have anything else in mind?

[finethanks]

Unfortunately not. I'm only familiar with more brutal methods.

[????? Without explaining that, he steps away just to grab the sharpest knife he has in his drawers. Sharper makes it easier, right? Bringing it back, he pauses with the flat of the blade against his other palm.]

I'm sorry, but would you mind if we did this on the floor away from the furniture?

[aeturnus]

Like what?

[ I mean, yeah, what the hell does that mean but also Cain doesn't know this kid's life story. Whatever. Live and let live!! He's about to respond on instinct that his blood won't be a problem because when he heals it comes back to him, but...

Right. He's not the one that will be healing himself this time. Huh. At that, he stands and moves over to the center of the floor, out of the way. ]

Not a problem. Want me to do that? [ He nods to the knife. ]

[finethanks]

Let's not speak about scary and violent things while we're already doing something like this.

[He's not going to answer, in other words. Eichi offers over the knife quickly enough once he joins him.]

If you don't mind. My hands will have to touch the wound, I think, so it would be difficult to juggle both. I'm ready as soon as you are, then.

[aeturnus]

Only if you don't want to.

[ As if Cain himself would be phased at all... He takes the knife in his dominant hand, left, and feels out the heft of it for a moment before putting it to his palm. ]

We'll start small.

[finethanks]

Are you also left-handed, Kane-kun?

[He has to ask, since he is, as well. But he's watching and waiting for that small start, ready to cover it with his hand the moment he sees blood. Whenever he does get to healing, Cain will feel that Eichi's fingers turn icy cold before his skin mends back together like brand new.]